The famous Mona Lisa painting was attacked by a visitor disguised as an old lady at the Louvre on Sunday.
The painting was reportedly unharmed after an environmental activist tried to smash the glass protecting before throwing cake on its surface in what appeared to be a climate change-related political stunt.
Pictures of the culprit on social media showed a young man dressed up in a wig and lipstick who had reportedly arrived in a wheelchair. According to one Twitter user, the disguised man threw roses everywhere before being tackled by security after the attack.
“Think of the Earth, people are destroying the Earth,” the man added in French while being led away by security from the Louvre, according to visitors. “Think about it. Artists tell you: think of the Earth. That’s why I did this.”
It is unclear how the man smuggled the cake into the museum. Visitors reported that he had disguised himself as an old lady and went through the museum in a wheelchair before attacking the painting. The Parisian museum has not yet commented on the attack.
It isn’t the first time the Mona Lisa has been in the news. In August 2009, a tourist threw a cup of tea at the Mona Lisa, which shattered the glass display.
In 1974, while on display at Tokyo National Museum, a woman used a red spray on the painting, but didn’t damage it. In 1956, there were two attacks: in the first one, a man threw acid at the painting, which damaged the lower part. Later on, a Bolivian painter threw a stone at the painting.
Back in 1911, the theft of the famous painting caused a sensation after Italian nationalist Vincenzo Peruggia stole the painting. It took two years before the painting was discovered and returned to the museum.
